terms & defenitions (EOY)

AESTHETIC

The look

ADHESIVE

Various types. Common method of joining two materials.

ALLOY

A combination of 2 or more metals.

ALUMINIUM

A non-ferrous metal. Light silver in colour. Strong and light.

ANNEALING

A method of heat treatment on metal to allow bending.

ANTHROPOMETRICS

The physical dimensions of the human body.

ART DECO

A design movement in the 1920’s. Very elegant.

ART NOUVEAU

A design movement of the early 1900’s. Natural influences.

AUTOMATED

A process needing no human operation.

BATCH PRODUCTION

Where a product is made regularly, in small numbers.

BAUHAUS

A German design school during the Second World War.

BIO-DEGRADE

Will decompose

BLOW MOULDING

A plastic manufacturing process. Used for bottles.

BRASS

A non-ferrous alloy. Mixture of copper and zinc.

BRIEF

A design brief sets out what you intend to design.

BURR

Rough edges of a filed piece of metal.

CALANDERING

Used for making thin sheet plastic products.

CARBON FIBRE

A composite (mixture). Very lightweight.

CASTING

A metal process. Many types including die and sand.

CELLULOSE

Plant derived material, used to make plastic.

CERAMICS

A clay based material.

CLIENT

The person the design is intended for. One person or group.

COMPOSITE

See carbon fibre. Mixture of 2 or more materials.

CAD

Computer Aided Design; Computer programs are used to develop ideas.

CAM

Computer Aided Manufacture; Ideas are processed using automated machinery.

CNC

Computer Numerical Control; Associated with CAD and CAM.

CONCRETE

A composite material. Very strong and heavy.

COPPER

A non-ferrous metal. Orange in colour.

COPYRIGHT

A design or idea can be protected from plagiarism.

CORROSION

Where a material deteriorates. May rot or rust.

DECIDUOUS

Trees that lose their leaves seasonally. Usually hardwoods.

DIMENSIONS

Measurements and sizes.

DESIGN

To create an idea.

DIE CASTING

Metal process.

DEMOGRAPHIC

A group of people.

DUCTILE

Ability to be stretched into long lengths.

ELECTROPLATING

Form of protection from corrosion. Coats material with metal.

ERGONOMICS

The study of human’s interaction with products and their environment.

EPOXY RESIN

Type of adhesive. Good for two different materials.

EXTRUSION

Plastic process for making tubing etc.

EVERGREEN

Trees that do not lose their leaves. Usually softwoods.

EXPLODED VIEW

A drawing which shows all parts separately.

FERROUS

Metals that contain iron.

FIBRE COMPOSITES

See “Composite”. Contains small fibres of plastic or glass.

FINISHINGS

Applied to a product to improve appearance and protect.

FUNCTION

How something works

FORM

How something looks

FLUX

Used in soldering. Helps the solder to flow when melted.

GRAPHICS

Drawings or images for presentation of ideas. Promotional.

GLOBAL DESIGN

Design for many people. Crosses culture and religion.

GLASS REINFORCED PLASTIC

See “Composites”

GANTT

Time-plan.

GALVANIZE

To add a protective layer to metal. Prevents rust.

HARDWOOD

From deciduous trees.

HARDENING

A heat process to improve hardness.

HUE

Colour or shade.

HACKSAW

A hand tool for cutting metal.

ISOMETRIC

A certain angled view of a drawing. 30 Degrees.

INERT

Non-reactive.

IRON

Ferrous metal. Dull grey.

INJECTION MOULDING

Plastic moulding process. For complex shapes.

JUST IN TIME (JIT)

A manufacture method. All about timing.

KNOCK DOWN FITTING

Where a product can be assembled

KNOT

The area where the branch once grew out from the trunk.

LAMINATE

Layers of material glued with adhesive.

LAYOUT

The configuration of an object or room, custom for user.

LEAD

Non-ferrous metal.

LED

Light emitting Diode; Type of low energy, long lasting bulb.

LINE BENDING

Plastic shaping method, allows plastic to be bent at angles.

LCD

Liquid Crystal Display; Used in mobile phone screens, TV’s etc.

MATERIAL

General term of many categories items used to make products.

MIG WELDING

A method of joining metal.

METAL

Cold and generally hard material.

MOOD BOARD

A collection of images to give inspiration, represent a user.

MODEL

A 3D representation of an idea. Made from card or foam.

MECHANICAL

Components that fit together to function in a certain way.

MODERNISM

A design movement from the 1900’s. Radical and bold.

MINIMALISM

A design movement from the 1960’s. Sparse and simple.

MACHINE

Object used in the workshop to help form products.

MANUFACTURE

Producing

NANO TECHNOLOGY

A form of technology that works on microscopic level.

NON-FERROUS

Metals that do not contain iron.

ORTHOGRAPHIC

A form of technical drawing showing three 2D views.

ORGANIC

A design movement that draws inspiration from nature.

OXY-ACETYLENE

A form of welding to join metal.

PACKAGING

Containers that hold

PATENT

A legal document that proves a design is your own work.

PERSPECTIVE

A form of technical graphic drawing.

PHOSPORESCENT

Coating that glows in the dark.

PLANISHING

Metal forming process. Involves beating metal into shape.

PLASTIC

A form of material. Many varieties.

POLYMER

Describes the structure of plastic. Technical term for plastic.

PLYWOOD

A man made timber, layers of wood laminated.

POLYMORPH

A smart material. Plastic that melts in 60 degree hot water.

POST-MODERNISM

A design movement of the early 1900’s.

POWDER COATING

Coats metal in fine plastic powder, melted to a smooth finish.

PRESENTATION

How to effective display work.

PROCESS

The various stages a design goes through to completion.

PROPERTIES

The way a material behaves. A material’s qualities.

PROTOTYPES

Test models of designs to see how well they work.